The question of how much it will cost Barnstable taxpayers to get rid of our Town Manager, whose buyout agreement states that there is “no cause for discipline, suspension, removal or termination,” has finally been answered…..sort of. The figure of $450,000 has been written but this does not include the cost of a nationwide search and all its associated costs.

So, for the sake of argument, let’s use the figure of half a million. To put this in more concrete terms, this amount of money translates, approximately, to any one of the following:

• 7 police officers w/ benefits

• More than 2 ½ years of the Supt. of Schools salary

• 70 percent of the cost of DPW equipment replacement for

• 1 year

• 10 teachers w/ benefits

• 20 teaching assistants w/ benefits

• Approximately 20 percent of the school bussing costs

• Substantial repair to roads and/or buildings

The group of six town councilors calling for this buyout have referred to themselves as “ six conservative voters who believe our first obligation is looking out for the taxpayers.”